Use of a polypeptide for effecting immune signalling and/or affecting intestinal barrier function and/or modulating metabolic status

Abstract

It has been found that an extracellular polypeptide derived from Akkermansia municiphila is capable of modulating and/or promoting gut mucosal immune system function and/or maintaining and/or restoring metabolic status and/or increasing the physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier in a mammal. The polypeptide or host cells comprising such polypeptide may be employed to prevent and/or treat a variety of conditions that benefit from an increased physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier and/or an improved gut mucosal immune system function and metabolic status.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition comprising an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or an amino acid sequence comprising at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 over the entire length of SEQ ID NO: 1, said polypeptide being capable of effecting immune signaling and/or affecting intestinal barrier function and/or affecting glucose and/or cholesterol and/or triglyceride homeostasis, and a pharmaceutically or alimentary acceptable carrier, wherein the pharmaceutically or alimentary acceptable carrier is formulated for oral delivery and is encapsulated with an enteric coating. 
     
     
       2. The composition according to  claim 1 , which is a nutritional composition or a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       3. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       4. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide retains activity while passing through the stomach. 
     
     
       5. The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutically or alimentary acceptable carrier further comprises one or more controlled release agents. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutically or alimentary acceptable carrier further comprises a mucosal binding agent. 
     
     
       7. The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide comprises between one and ten amino acid substitutions relative to SEQ ID NO:1.